Dr Treasa Kenny

    Edward M Kennedy Institute, Law

    Academic Programme Coordinator & Lecturer

    Rye Hall
    3rd Floor
    (01) 708 6635

    Biography

    Having delivered two undergraduate modules for the Department of Law, Maynooth University since January 2017, I transferred to that department on 1 January 2021.  Prior to this, I was Programme Director and Lecturer in Mediation, Conflict Intervention and Negotiation in the Edward M Kennedy Institute for Conflict Intervention from December 2016-31 December 2020.  I am graduate of University of Sheffield and University College Dublin who worked in organisations and as a self-employed practitioner for 18 years, in mediation, conflict intervention and negotiation roles across a variety of sectors – Higher Education, Health, Voluntary, Financial Services and Separating Couples.   I completed a PhD (part-time) mapping the complex landscape of antecedents, processes and outcomes to workplace mediation. As a pracademic, I have a commitment to working collaboratively with both academics and practitioners in the fields of mediation, conflict intervention and negotiation. My overall aim is to include those who participate in mediation, conflict intervention and negotiation in those conversations.   I have contributed articles to the Journal of Mediation and Applied Conflict Intervention (JMACA).  I am currently (2020/2021) Editor of JMACA.  As one of the founding members of the Kennedy Institute Workplace Mediation Research Group (KIWMRG) I was part of the research project team that delivered two related research reports in 2016.  Our approach to research involves academic researchers and practitioners conducting research together in the interests of the community of practice.    I am an Advanced Member of the Mediators’ Institute of Ireland (MII). I was Director of Accreditation for the MII for seven years (2006-2013) and took up that role again with effect from December 2019.   On behalf of MII, I am also a participant on an Erasmus programme which brings together mediation training providers across Europe.  I am a member of the International Mediation Institute (IMI) and represented the MII on the Board of the European Mediation Network Initiative (EMNI).  I am also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD).

    Research Interests

    Appropriate Dispute Resolution (ADR). Workplace conflict resolution.  Workplace Mediation.  Systemic Leadership.  Restorative Practices.  Mediation Ethics.  Co-operative Inquiry.  Mixed Methods research.

    Research Projects

      Project Role Funding Body / Program Description Start Date End Date Award (€)
    Glencree Evaluation PI Irish Research Council (IRC) / New Foundations Evaluation of facilitated dialogues in conflict, post-conflict, or transitional conflict settings is not common. Glencree is keen to capture learning about dialogue itself and to learn about evaluation processes to understand if/how its facilitated dialogue approach contributes to developing the changes involved in building sustainable peace in Ireland. Glencree wishes to explore the development of an appropriate evaluation framework that captures this facilitated dialogue concept across its Programmes. The framework needs to be agile enough to deal with the shared and unique aspects of individual Programmes, and this framework will be integrated into Programme design and monitoring and evaluation. 01-MAR-21 01-DEC-21 12000
    EI Travel Grant PI EU Horizon 2020 National Support Network / Travel Assistance 29-JAN-21 28-JUL-21 500
    NF/2019/15821756-Engaging the Community in Developing a Public Policy Framework for Mediation in Ireland PI Irish Research Council (IRC) / New Foundations Ireland has a developing culture of mediation use within its public sector, semi-state and private sector. With the first anniversary of the Mediation Act 2017 approaching, and continuing development in the area of mediation more generally, there is an opportunity to host a conference here in Maynooth to bring together members of the World Mediation Forum and international academics researching in this area. This is with the purpose of showcasing Irish research to date (Family Mediation, Child Welfare Mediation, Workplace Mediation, Comparative Study on Employment Mediation with New Zealand, Peer Mediation in Education) and building further capacity for world class research with European international partners 01-MAY-20 01-MAY-21 11421.97
    Comparative Study of State Provision of Workplace Mediation in Ireland and New Zealand Project Team Member Department of Justice and Equality / Government State Bodies 01-MAY-18 31-DEC-19 5000
    Shaping the Future of Workplace Mediation in Ireland Project Team Member Ìndustry / Non Commercial 09-JAN-16 01-MAR-17 4000

    Book Chapters

      Year Publication
    2018 'Workplace Mediation: Using Research to Shape the Agenda in Ireland'
    Curran, D., Kenny, T., Bouchier, M. and Coakley, A. (2018) 'Workplace Mediation: Using Research to Shape the Agenda in Ireland' In: Santiago Madrid Liras, Kevin Brown and Emilio Navas Paus (eds). Mediation across the Globe. UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. [full-text] [Details]

    Peer Reviewed Journals

      Year Publication
    2015 'Co-creating Positive Working Environments: a meta mediation perspective'
    Kenny, Treasa (2015) 'Co-creating Positive Working Environments: a meta mediation perspective'. 2 (2) [full-text] [Details]
    2014 'Developing the Conversation about Workplace Mediation'
    Treasa Kenny (2014) 'Developing the Conversation about Workplace Mediation'. 1 (1) [full-text] [Details]

    Other Journals

      Year Publication
    2020 'Workplace Conflict and Mediation: The Role of HR'
    Kenny, T (2020) 'Workplace Conflict and Mediation: The Role of HR' CIPD In a Nutshell, (98) . [Details]

    Conference Contributions

      Year Publication
    2020 Welcome to the 21st Century: Informing HR Decision-making about Workplace Mediation.
    Dr Treasa Kenny (2020) Welcome to the 21st Century: Informing HR Decision-making about Workplace Mediation. [Oral Presentation], CIPD Applied Research Conference, Dublin City University [full-text] [Details]
    2016 Workplace Mediation: Mapping the Organisational Field.
    Treasa Kenny (2016) Workplace Mediation: Mapping the Organisational Field. [Plenary Lecture], Irish Academy of Management, University College Dublin, Blackrock , 01-SEP-16 - 01-SEP-16 [Details]
    2016 Re-imaging Research: Building a Community of Practice for Practitioner-Scholar Collaboration in Workplace Mediation.
    Kenny, T., Curran, D. and Kellett L. (2016) Re-imaging Research: Building a Community of Practice for Practitioner-Scholar Collaboration in Workplace Mediation. [Chaired Session], Irish Academy of Management, University College Dublin, Blackrock , 02-SEP-16 - 02-SEP-16 [Details]

    Policy Contribution

      Year Publication
    2016 Shaping the Agenda 2: Implications for Workplace Mediation, Training, Standards and Practice in Ireland.
    Kennedy Institute Workplace Mediation Research Group (2016) Shaping the Agenda 2: Implications for Workplace Mediation, Training, Standards and Practice in Ireland. Policy Contribution [Details]

    Research Paper

      Year Publication
    2016 Shaping the Agenda 1: Exploring the Competencies, Skills and Behaviours of Effective Workplace Mediators.
    Kennedy Institute Workplace Mediation Research Group (2016) Shaping the Agenda 1: Exploring the Competencies, Skills and Behaviours of Effective Workplace Mediators. Research Paper [Details]

    Working Paper

      Year Publication
    2020 Framing a Project to Engage the ADR Community in Developing a Public Policy Framework for Mediation in the Republic of Ireland MUSSI Working Paper No 14(MUSSI, Maynooth, Ireland.
    Kenny, T (2020) Framing a Project to Engage the ADR Community in Developing a Public Policy Framework for Mediation in the Republic of Ireland MUSSI Working Paper No 14(MUSSI, Maynooth, Ireland. Maynooth University: Working Paper [full-text] [Details]

    Honours and Awards

      Year Title Awarding Body
    2016 Best Student Paper Award Irish Academy of Management

    Professional Associations

      Association Function From / To
    Mixed Methods International Research Association (MMIRA) Research 01-JAN-16 /
    Chartered Institute of Personnel Development Fellow 01-JAN-84 /
    International Mediation Institute Member 01-JUL-11 /
    Irish Academy of Management Member 01-JAN-13 /
    The Mediators' Institute of Ireland Practitioner Member 01-SEP-02 /

    Committees

      Committee Function From / To
    KIWMRG Steering Committee Member 2014 /
    KIWMRG Research Group Founding Member 2014 /
    Journal of Mediation and Applied Conflict Analysis Editorial Team 2013 /
    Sharing and Learning for Professional Mediators Chairperson 2012 /

    Employment

      Employer Position From / To
    National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children HR Change Manager 01-JAN-90 / 30-JAN-92
    University College Dublin Module Coordinator 01-JAN-16 / 01-DEC-16
    University College Dublin Staff Development and Equality Manager 01-JAN-93 / 26-JAN-98
    Touche Ross & Co Management Consultants HR Manager 01-OCT-83 / 01-OCT-90
    Burtenshaw Kenny & Associates Partner 27-JAN-98 / 30-JAN-16

    Education

      Year Institution Qualification Subject
    1995 University of Sheffield Master of Education Education, Training and Development
    2018 University College Dublin PhD Workplace Mediation
    2005 University College Dublin MA Mediation and Conflict Intervention

    Outreach Activities

      Description

    Through an IRC funded project, the ADR Agencies in Ireland are engaged with in relation to sharing information and considering the public policy framework for mediation provision in Ireland.

    Working with Glencree and its various dialogue programmes to develop a framework for evaluation of facilitated dialogue.

    Other Activities

      Description

    This role is a professional role. During the time of my membership, I have participated in the development of mediation and the Mediators' Institute of Ireland. I have held a number of voluntary roles with the Mediators' Institute of Ireland. I currently sit on the Executive of the MII, attend Council meetings, sit on the Ethics Committee and chair the Accreditation Policy Committee which proposes policy in relation to the professional qualification and accreditation standards for membership of the MII. I also represent the MII as part of an Eramus project for curriculum development for intercultural mediation in Europe.

    Teaching Interests

    Negotiation. Alternative Dispute Resolution, specifically mediation.  Workplace Conflict Management Systems.   Co-creating Systemic Leadership in Organisations. Coordination and teaching of LW160 Negotiation. Coordination and teaching of LW345 Dispute Resolution. Teaching and coaching on mediation and conflict intervention programmes.

    Reciprocal teaching with NUI Galway (HRM MSc) - conflict intervention in the workplace.
    Reciprocal teaching with University College Dublin (HRM MSc) - relationship mediation in practice.
    Teaching with University College Dublin (Health and Safety) - motivation, communication, training and development

    External Collaborators

      Name Role / Description Country
    Professor Ian McAndrew, Otago University Project Team Leader for New Zealand NEW ZEALAND
    Dr Deirdre Curran, NUI Galway IRELAND